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The Nigerian government and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have agreed to work together to promote industrial harmony in the country.
The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU in Abuja during the week, aimed at averting a nationwide industrial action planned by the Union.
The MoU was signed after a conciliation meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Dingyadi, with the representatives of the Federal Government and the leadership of NAAT.
A 21-day ultimatum earlier issued to the Federal government by NAAT had expired and the Union vowed it would embark on industrial action to press home its demands.
The contentious issues according to NAAT, include the mainstreaming of allowances of its members, the release of N50 billion to settle the outstanding claims of Earned Allowances of members of the Union to address the “injustice meted to their members in the recently disbursed funds and completion of renegotiation of the FGN/NAAT 2009 Agreement exercise.
“Others are the implementation of the Consequential Adjustment of the New National Minimum Wage, payment of three and half months withheld salaries and release of third-party deductions of the two months of withheld salaries paid, and payment of seven and 11 months arrears of Occupational Hazard and Responsibility Allowances, respectively”.
In the MoU signed, the meeting resolved to set up a technical committee to address the issue of the mainstreaming of allowances of NAAT members including Field Trips, Student Technologist Staff Ratio Supplementation, Student Work Experience Programme SWEP, and call duty allowances.
The Committee comprising the Budget Office of the Federation (Budget Manager & Director, Funds), Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, two representatives each from NAAT, National Universities Commission NUC, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission NSIWC and the Federal Ministry of Education, has two weeks to submit its report.
The meeting also directed the same Committee to handle both the payment of three and a half months withheld salaries, and the release of third-party deductions of the two-month withheld salaries paid, and payment of seven and 11 months arrears of Occupational Hazard & Responsibility Allowances respectively.
The payment of arrears of 30,000 Minimum Wage to omitted members of NAAT implemented in 2019, which NUC was also asked to revisit for possible resolution, and payment of one year arrears of 35%/25% salary increment were also referred to the Committee, handling the mainstreaming of allowances.
On the release of the 50 billion naira to settle outstanding claims of earned allowances of NAAT members, the meeting asked the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to follow up with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure possible supplementary payment to NAAT.
The meeting also mandated the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to follow up with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure early completion of the protracted FGN/NAAT 2009 Agreement renegotiation exercise.
Furthermore, the meeting noted that the consequential adjustment of the New Minimum Wage has been implemented as negotiated by the Joint Public Negotiating Council.
Regarding the release of enabling circular for career progression to CONTISS 14 and 15 for Academic Technologists, the meeting directed the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to write to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to expedite action on it.
The meeting also addressed the non-recognition of NEC approved NAAT, Nnamdi Azikiwe University NAU Branch leadership against what is described as “an illegal EXCO whose tenure has elapsed by the Management of Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka, and non-remittance of seven months (November 2024 – May 2025) check-off dues to NAAT National Headquarters by the branch, the meeting mandated the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to write to the Management of NAU to look into the matter and report back to the Ministry within one week.
The parties then agreed that another conciliation meeting would be held in three weeks to review the situation and consider the report of the committee.